THE 



GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



AND 



HORTICULTURIST. 



DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE. ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS. 



Edited by THOMAS MEEHA.N. 



Yol. XXL 



JANITAKY 1879. 



Kumber 241. 



Flower Garden and Pleasure Ground. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



"We have often stated that one of the grievous 

 errors of American gardening is that they are 

 too large. American fortunes are not so steady. 

 We have a succession of years of prosperity, and 

 among other luxuries, form a good garden; but 

 it is hardly put in fair order before we find that 

 its necessary expenses are too large for our in- 

 come, and the establishment runs down. "We 

 see these places everywhere. Here are gardens 

 which ought to have half a dozen men to keep 

 them properly, cut down perhaps to one laborer, 

 besides the gardener ; and the gardeners engaged 

 are of the cheapest kind, and for all grudgingly 

 paid. It should never be forgotten that it costs 

 something to keep up a garden as well as to 

 maintain horses and carriages. "We build stables, 

 and buy fine animals, but we well know that this 

 is but the beginning of an annual cost. A gar- 

 den must be viewed in the same light. Many 

 lose interest in their gardens through getting 

 poor gardeners. There is nothing new, no taste, 

 no enjoyment. Far better to get some one of supe- 

 rior education and pay him well , though we have 

 but half the extent of ground, or a much less 

 number of greenhouses. We should advise all 

 our friends to cut down their large gardens, em- 

 ploy with the difference only first-rate men at a 



[fair price, and it will be wonderful how much 

 I the interest in the garden will grow. 

 ! Those who have small gardens may also pro- 

 fit by the hint. Have no more land occupied 

 than can be kept in the highest order. Where 

 no regular gardener is kept, and only the 

 "jobber" a day or two a week is to be called in, 

 use considerable judgement in the selection of the 

 man. iN'ear all large towns there are, at least, 

 a half dozen to choose from. When the right 

 one is found, be liberal with him. It is far better 

 to encoui'age good knowledge and good taste, at 

 the expense of smaller grounds, than to have 

 large places badly kept, simply because a poor 

 tool will work for wages which he could make 

 as well by day's work as a laborer on a railroad. 

 So much for concentration of energy and expense. 



Turning now to more practical matters, we 

 would say that before any walk is located, be 

 sure it is absolutely required. A pretty outline 

 should be subservient to this. Utility is the 

 essence of beauty in a garden walk. With these 

 general hints on first cost and maintenance, we 

 can only give, this month, the more practical 

 advice to get ready for regular work. 



The manure heap is one of those items that 

 can receive attention at this season to advan- 

 tage. Without a good pile of rich compost, very 

 little success can be hoped for in any kind of 

 gardening affairs. Leaves and litter of every 



